More than 10,000 children with serious mental health problems in Essex are not getting the services they need, a public health report has revealed. The report, released to the BBC, says there are serious shortcomings in the treatment of children in the county. It was produced on behalf of local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Essex CCGs said the government was investing an extra £3.3m, up 25% on the current budget, in mental health in the county. The soon to be published report, Open Up, Reach Out, found: Support for children with low to moderate needs was extremely low There was no specialist eating disorder support in south Essex, despite the number of young people having such conditions rising Anyone suffering from anorexia or bulimia would all too often be treated in hospital Assessments of young people potentially suffering anorexia or bulimia are otherwise carried out in A&E or paediatric wards The report estimates there are 22,420 children in Essex with serious mental disorders, with fewer than half receiving specialist care. Claire Morris, the lead commissioner for children's mental health services in Essex, and the chief executive of West Essex CCG, told BBC Essex: "Clearly it's not acceptable if any young person or family is not getting the support they need. "That's why on a countywide basis we are working together to provide this better service." She said the government was providing an extra £3.3m a year, which would "fast-track" the ability "to increase and improve children's mental health services". It takes the spending to more than £16m a year.